Political Agenda: Mathew Beech

“Osborne has got insiders in Decc to help direct policy”

In the female-friendly reshuffle, David Cameron gave the chop to the male, pale and stale brigade of middle-aged men.

At Decc, out went Greg Barker and Michael Fallon. Over at Defra, Owen Paterson paid the price for his calamitous handling of the badger cull, and the winter floods, and has been replaced by Liz Truss.

With Amber Rudd and ­Matthew Hancock named as the new climate change and energy ­ministers, George Osborne has now tightened his grip on Decc; Rudd is the chancellor’s former parliamentary private secretary, while Hancock was the then shadow chancellor’s economic adviser between 2005 and 2010.

The Treasury is keen to keep Decc on a tight rein, especially as the contracts for difference regime – already criticised by the National Audit Office for blowing most of the Levy Control Framework budget – gets underway.

Cameron’s proponents will claim the reshuffle has been a step forward and a demonstration of how modern the Conservatives are, showing equality and providing the shattered remains of the glass ceiling.

Cynics will point out that with nine months until the general election, this is nothing more than a PR stunt.

Either way, the chancellor will be happy with the outcome.

Osborne has now got two insiders within Decc to help direct policy the way he wants, and to keep Ed Davey on a tight leash, should the energy secretary try to press ahead with anything a bit too Lib Dem-ish.